NHL's diversity program pays off

Biracial goalie from Evanston sees brief action for Lightning

When the Tampa Bay Lightning called up Gerald Coleman this month, the goalie became the first member of the NHL's diversity program to join an NHL roster.

The Evanston native played the third period in a game against the Atlanta Thrashers. He stood out, if for no other reason than there aren't many 6-foot-5-inch biracial goalies, or players who come from suburban Chicago.

"It gave me something to do where I could've been, being I came from a little bit of a rough neighborhood, doing the wrong things," Coleman said, reflecting on his high school days.

"A lot of kids asked, `Why are you doing that?"' Coleman said. "In high school, my gym teacher gave me a bad grade because he was the basketball coach and he wanted me to play basketball and he frowned upon me playing hockey. Because according to him, it was a white man's game, and I should be playing basketball because I was the second-tallest person in our high school."

Years later, Coleman is proving he made the right choice. He was unceremoniously welcomed to the NHL with Marian Hossa's short-handed goal, then stopped four of five shots in relief of starter John Grahame.

"I'm glad I have the opportunity to see what it's like," Coleman said of reaching the NHL. "But I'm here to win games. I want to get out there and get better."

Coleman's stay was short- lived. He was sent down a few days later when Sean Burke came off the injured list, but it's an opportunity the young player won't soon forget.

He credits the diversity program with fueling his interest in the sport. The program also helps to supply the expensive equipment, which Coleman said came in handy.

When he was 13, he played in the Willie O'Ree All-Star Game (named for the NHL's first black player and current head of the league's diversity program) at the United Center.

"These kids have this opportunity, and all they have to do is work hard and stay focused," O'Ree said.

Coleman was on the elite U.S. national team program and was a second-round pick in the Ontario Hockey League draft. Last year his London Knights won Canadian junior hockey's highest prize, the Memorial Cup, as the team set a national record for the longest unbeaten streak of 31 games. Coleman, taken in the seventh round of the 2003 NHL draft by Tampa Bay, went 32-2-2 with the Knights last season.

The NHL has had a number of black players, but nearly all have come from Canada.

"In Canada they don't worry about what color you are, what religion you are," Coleman said. "It's a game to them. They see it as equal to everyone else."